Reticulated sheet material



April 1, 1958 J. w. HILL RETICULATED SHEET MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 12, 1951 INVENTOR.

W WWMZ %%M a '5 J. W. HILL I RETICULATED SHEET MATERIAL April 1, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1951 J. w. HILL 2,828,843

RETICULATED SHEET MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3- A ril 1, 1958 Filed Oct.12, 1951 L I I United States Patent@ i had z,s2s,s43 RETICULATED snnnrMATERIAL John W. Hill, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Globe Company,Chicago, Ill, a corporation of lilinois Application October 12, 1951,Serial No. 251,088 7 Claims. (Cl. rest-es The present invention relatesto reticulated sheet material and the method of making the same.

More particularly this invention relates to reticulated sheet metalhavin substantially diamond-shaped openings and integral side margins orflanges on two opposite sides thereof which may be shaped as desired toprovide crests of the corrugations and the intermediate rows at thetroughs thereof. While the corrugating step may sometimes facilitate theforming of the reticulated material, it is. generally unnecessary, andmay, therefore, usually be omitted. Whether the slitted blank has beencorrugated or not, the material intermediate the saddles is thereafterbent or rearranged to form strips substantially normal to the plane ofthe sheet extending between the unslitted marginal portions or flangesand shaped to provide substantially diamond-shaped openingstherebetween. r H t v The, resulting reticulated sheet having twointegral marginal edges with strips extending therebetween substantiallynormal to the general plane of the sheet is practically the same size asthe original blank from which produced. However, the thickness of thesheet may be substantially greater than the width of the strips. ,Theintegral marginal edges which extend substantially at right angles tothe general direction of the stripsmay be shaped as desired to providesuitable strengthening members, securing members, and steps or the like.

The distance between the parallel rows of slits is sufficient to providestrips of substantial width. These strips, being normal to the plane ofthe sheet, provide great strength longitudinally thereof. High strengthtransversely of'the strips is also provided by 'the integral flanges atthe ends of the strips and the saddles. Moreover, due to the width ofthe strips the reticulated sheet may be made from relatively light-gaugesheet metal, such as 16 or 18 gauge or-comparable material; and stillhave high strength. V p ,The reticulatedsheets of the present inventionare therefore particularly suitable for use as gratings, runningboards,- steps, platforms, etc., where considerable strength isrequired. Moreover, the sheets maybe formed to provide bearing surfaceswhich prevent skidding in any direction even when wet or covered withice.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide a reticulated sheethaving relatively great strength.

" Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a reticulatedsheet having a central, reticulated portion and integral, marginal edgesor flanges outWardly of and on opposite'sides of the reticulatedportion.

Patented Apr. 1, 1958 Still another object is to provide a reticulatedsheet having integral marginal edges with strips of substantial widthextending substantially transversely thereof and substantially normal tothe plane of the sheet.

A still further object is to provide a reticulated sheet of highstrength having substantially diamond-shaped openings therein.

Still another object is to provide a reticulated sheet havingsubstantially diamond-shaped openings of great uniformity.

A still further object is to provide a reticulated sheet having anonskid bearing surface on one or both sides thereof.

A further object is to provide a reticulated sheet having stripssubstantially normal to the plane of the sheet connected by rows ofsaddles extending generally transversely to said strips, with alternaterows of saddles adjacent one surface of the sheet and the intermediaterows adjacent the other surface of the sheet.

Another object is to provide a method for forming reticulated sheets ofthe above type.

A still further object is to provide such a method which involvesslitting and rearranging the metal with little or no expansion of theoriginal blank.

An additional object is to provide such a method for quickly and easilyproducing a recticulated sheet of the above type.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the'followingdescription and claims when considered with the accompanyingdrawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a reticulated sheet embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus which may be employed forproducing a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4showing diagrammatically the slitting knives for forming the slits inthe blank;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4illustrating diagrammatically the corrugating dies of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4showing diagrammatically the punching mechanism of the apparatus foropening the slits and rearranging the metal to produce the finishedsheet;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sheet showing the result of the line 3 3 thevarious steps during the method of forming the same,

including the slitting, the corrugating, and the opening andrearranging;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the punches and holdingmembers shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line lit-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the punches which may beemployed; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the overlapping zigzag slits formed inthe blank for the purpose of increasing the nonskid characteristics ofthe finished, reticulated sheet. H

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-3, there isshown a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention, comprisingsubstantially flat marginal side or flange portions 11 and 11a extendinggenerally longitudinally of the sheets with strips 12 of generallyuniform Width substantially normal to the plane of the sheet extendingtherebetween. The strips are connected by generally transverse rows ofsaddles 13 and 14 and are shaped so as to form substantiallydiamondshaped openings bounded by the strips and saddles. In theembodiment illustrated, the alternate rows of saddles 13 are adjacentone surface of the reticulated sheet, while the intermediate rows ofsaddles 14 are adjacent the op posite face of the sheet. Alongitudinally extending row of positioning holes 16 may be formed in atleast one of the side margins or flanges 11. The flanges with theopenings 16 therein or other openings of relatively small extentcompared to the area of the flanges are considered substantiallyimperforate as that expression is used herein. In order to provide anonskid surface the opposite edges of the strips 12 are roughened orprovided with projections 15, although this may be dispensed with, asthere is little likelihood of anyone skidding on the sheet even if theopposite edges of the strips 12 are made generally straight;

In forming the reticulated sheet of the present invention, a blank 17 ofthe desired Width and length of the finished sheet is fed to suitablemechanism 18 illustrated diagrammatically. The material of the blank isprefer ably metal, such, for example, as steel or aluminum. However, anyother material capable of forming a reticulated sheet embodying thepresent invention may be employed. The apparatus 18 may comprise astationary bed 19 and a ram or head 20 mounted for verticalreeiprocation toward and away from the bed 19. The various parts of theapparatus for operating upon the blank are secured to the bed 19 and ram20. The first section of the apparatus illustrated consists of anordinary reciprocating cutter or slitter having suitable knives 21, suchas illustrated in Fig. 5. The knives are preferably shaped and arrangedto form spaced rows of overlapping serrated' slits 22 transversely ofthe blank 17. If

desired, the slits may be straight or of other configuration.

The bed plate of the machine is preferably provided at one side with acontinuous die 23 having longitudinally spaced holes 24 throughout itslength, and at the opposide side with a continuous rail 23a which mayhave a cross section similar to that of the die 23. The slitting portionof the machine includes a row of punches 25 mounted at the same side ofthe ram as the die 23 and arranged to cooperate with the openings 24therein. If desired, punches 25 and dies 23 for cooperating'therewithmay be employed at both sides of the bed plate. The dies 23 and punches25 extend outwardly toward each other beyond their respective cutters orknives 21. Thus, when a sheet has been fed a proper distance into themachine and the ram 20 moved downwardly toward the bed 19, the punches25 form the holes 16 in the margin of the sheet before the knives engagethe blank. As the punches extend some distance into the dies 23 theyserve to properly position the blank 17 during the slitting operation.

Holding means are also preferably provided for holding the margins ofthe blank against movement while it is being operated upon. Such meansmay consist of pressure or stripper plates 26 carried on the ram 20 andextending along substantially the full length of each side of themachine above the die 23 and rail 23a. The pressure plate positionedover the die 23 has perforations through which the punches 25 and pins29 carried by the ram 20 may pass. Springs 27 are arranged between theram 20 and the pressure plates 26, being positioned about the punches 25or pins 29 which fit into the holes 24 at one side of the machine, andabout guides 2% which sup port the pressure plate on the opposite sideof the ram. The springs 27 force the pressure plates tightly against thetop of the margins of the blank 17 properly located by the punches 25and pins 29 to immovably clamp these margins between the pressure platesand the die 23 and rail 23a.

The cutters are arranged so that a predetermined section of the blank isslitted during each cycle or operating 4 stroke of the ram 20, and thesheet is moved the desired distance when the ram is in its upperposition. It is to be noted that the knives 21 slit only the centralportion of the blank, leaving at each side thereof a marginal flange orside portion 11 that is unperforated except for the holes 16 when theseare punched therein.

After a portion of a blank has been slitted, the ram is raised, and theblank is again fed a similar distance into the machine by the feedingmembers 18a. This brings a new section of the blank between the cutters21, and moves the portion which was just slitted by the cutters i to theadjacent portion of the machine for the next operation thereon. If acorrugating step is to be employed, the slitted portion of the blank isfed between corrugating dies 28, such as shown in Fig. 6, forcorrugating the sheet generally transversely of the slits 22. Thecorrugating dies are so shaped and arranged that alternate rows ofsaddles 13 will be at the crests of the corrugations and theintermediate rows of saddles 14 will be at the troughs thereof.

During the corrugating operation, the pins 29, which preferably extendthe full length of the head 20 beyond the slitting portion, engage theopenings 16 in the marginal flange of the blank before the corrugatingdies 28 contact the sheet. Thus the blank may be exactly positionedduring its entire movement through the apparatus. Moreover, the pressureplates 26 frictionally hold the side margins 11 of the blank 17, so thatthe likelihood of tearing or enlarging the holes 16 due to any pull onthe blank 17 is eliminated. As the sides of the blanks are preferablyheld a fixed distance apart during the entire operation, there is aslight drawing of the metal during the corrugating step. However, thedimensions of the blank will remain constant throughout.

When the sheet is next advanced, the corrugated portion, or the slittedportion of the blank if the corrugating is omitted, is subjected to theaction of shaping punches, such, for example, as those illustrated inFigs. 7-11. During this operation also the pins 29 pass through theopenings 16 in the side flange of the sheet and in conjunction with thepressure plates 26 maintain the margins of the sheet adjacent theshaping punches in proper position the same fixed distance apart.

In the punching or rearranging portion ofthe apparatus illustrated inFigs. 911, transverse rows of individual punches 30 are fixed in thehead 20, and transverse rows of punches 31, oifset from the upperpunches longitudinally as well as transversely, are fixed in the bedplate 19. Suitable means are provided to prevent undesired verticaldisplacement of the blank during the punching and rearranging operation.Such means may comprise positioning members 32 resiliently mounted inthe ram 20 between the punches 30 in rows longitudinally of the machine,and positioning members 33 resiliently mounted in the bed plate 19between the punches 31 in rows longitudinally of the machine, as shownparticularly in Figs. 9 and 10.

The positioning members 32 and 33 are so arranged that the upper members32 engage the outer surface of the upper saddles 13, while the lowerpositioning members 33 engage the lower surface of the saddles 14adjacent the bottom side of the sheet.

Wells 34 are provided in the bed plate 19 and ram 20 for the positioningmembers, each well having a reduced entrant opening 35 through which thepositioning members pass. The inner ends 36 of the positioning membersare enlarged to fit the well, and springs 37 are placed between theinner ends 36 of the positioning members and the ends of the wells, thustending to maintain the positioning members 32 and 33 in their outerpositions. Other suitable arrangements for mounting the positioningmembers may be employed.

When the slitted and corrugated portion of the blank is positionedbetween the punches and the head and bed gamers plate are moved towardeach other, each punch enters one of the slits 22 and each of thepositioning members engages the outer face of one of the saddles 13 and14. Thus, the punches bend the material of the blank on each side of thesaddle away therefrom toward the opposite face of the sheet, so thatsubstantially half the metal in each strip is bent in one direction fromthe original plane of the sheet and the other half in the oppositedirection and the resulting strips are Zigzag shaped.

As the twosets of punches 30 and 31 move through the sheet in oppositedirections and the positioning members 32 and 33 tend to preventmovement of the sheet, both the flanges and the saddles will be held insubstantially fixed position during the punching operation.

Holding plates may also be employed for preventing undesirable verticalmovement of the blank. As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, they maybe mounted in the ram and urged downwardly therefrom by springs 41. Theopposed or inner edges of the holding plates 40 are serrated to fitabout the outer ends of the diamonds adjacent the margins of the blank.Although the holding plates 40 may be used in addition to thepositioning members 32 and 33, they are usually employed in placethereof, and alone sufliciently prevent vertical movement of the blankduring the punching or rearranging operation.

While the punches may differ in shape, punches such as shown in Fig. 11have proved very satisfactory. In cross section the punches aresubstantially diamond shaped and gradually taper inwardly in width fromthe inner ends thereof adjacent the bed plate and the ram to the outerfree ends thereof. Throughout most of their length the taper at eachside of the punches may be substantially 5 from the center line thereofto permit their ready withdrawal from the sheets. Adjacent their outerfree ends the taper is much greater and each punch terminates in afairly sharp edge which may readily enter the slit between two saddles.While the punch shown in Fig. 11 forms an opening about twice as long aswide, its dimensions and shape may vary. Throughout the application thephrase substantially diamond-shaped is intended to cover the shape ofany opening which is relatively wide adjacent the central portion andthen narrows toward the-opposite ends, and the punches for forming suchopenings.

The strips 12 extending between the side margins or flanges 11 aresubstantially normal to the general plane of the sheet. However, thetaper of the punches the spacing therebetween of a distance greater thanthe thickness of the material of said sheet as shown in Fig. 10 and theresiliency of the metal or other material will result in their deviatingslightly from perpendicularity, throughout at least part of theirlength.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the edges of the strips forming thebearing surface generally do not lie in one common plane. Instead, dueto the operations on the blank the sides of each of the diamond-shapedopenings slant upwardly from the ends to the middle portion. Thisincreases the nonskid characteristics of the material. While the edgesof the knives employed for slitting the sheet are serrated to form slitsas shown in Figs. 8 and 12, the slits may be straight and the resultingsheet will still provide a surface which is nonskid to a substantialextent, particularly transversely of the general direction of thestrips.

For the purpose of positioning the blanks or sheets exactly duringoperations thereon, it has been found desirable to employ punches andpins and 29, respectively, which pass through the margins of the sheetand enter into the openings in the die 23. As above pointed out, theopenings 16 may be formed in the margins on both sides of the blank.Moreover, after the sheet is finished these openings 16 may serve a veryuseful purpose. They may be employed to secure one of the reticulatedsheets to a support or to another sheet, particularly when the sidemargins or flanges 11 are bent down,

as shown in Fig. 2, to form longitudinal reinforcing members marked 11a.Although other positive positioning means may be employed for holdingthe blanks during the various operations thereon, it may still bedesirable to form the openings 16 in the margins 11' of the sheets. Theflanges 11 preferably remain in the original plane of the blank duringformation of the sheet, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. However, theymay in some instances have other shapes, as shown at 11a in this figure.In either form the flange portions are preferably maintained in theirinitial flat state Without substantial extension during formation of thereticulated sheet.

Ordinarily, the reticulated sheets have integral flanges at two sidesonly. However, if desired, they can be formed with such integral flangeson the other sides.

For running boards, steps, platforms, and other uses of a similarnature, the sheets employed are relatively narrow, and with strips ofsubstantial width ample strength is provided when 16 or 18 gauge metalor comparable material is employed. Even when aluminum is used insteadof steel, the sheets are sufficiently strong for most purposes. Thesaddles prevent any turning of the strips 12, and the marginal flanges,particularly when bent into the shape of an angle or channel, providegreat strength transversely of the slits and resulting openings. Themarginal flanges or portions may be made of any desired width. Themargins may therefore be shaped to form integral, bracing members,securing members, steps, etc.

The reticulated sheets embodying the present invention, due to theirstrength, integral construction, and nonskid characteristics, are verydesirable for use as running boards on freight cars. Even if wet or icy,there is substantially no likelihood of anyone slipping or skiddingthereon. For this reason the material may also be used veryadvantageously in Stockyards and other places where the workmen arefrequently required to walk on surfaces subjected to fluids.

As the sides of the strips extending transversely between the sideflanges are readily accessible, the reticulated material may be easilyand thoroughly cleaned. This is important for use in Stockyards andother places where cleanliness is essential. Also due to theaccessibility of all parts of the material, it may be readily painted.

While there has been illustrated and described a reticulated sheetembodying the present invention and a method of making the same,together with apparatus which may be employed therefor, it will beunderstood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto,since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated, therefore,by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An integral reticulated sheet of grating material comprisingsubstantially flat substantially unslitted flange portions extendinggenerally longitudinaliy of one dimension of said sheet, a plurality ofcontinuous strips extending between said flanges arranged substantiallynormal to the general plane of the sheet, said strips being ofundulating shape forming rows of diamond-shaped openings between theopposed faces of said strips with the diamond-shaped openings inalternate rows offset longitudinally from the diamond-shaped openings inintermediate rows and portions of the opposite edges of said stripsdefining the opposite surfaces of said sheet, and the pairs of strips defining alternate rows converging somewhat toward one surface of saidsheet at an angle deviating slightly from perpendicularity to saidsheet, and a plurality of spaced saddles connecting the free edges ofadjacent strips at the ends of said diamond-shaped openings, saidsaddles being arranged in generally transverse rows with alternate rowsadjacent to and offset inwardly of one surface of said 7 sheet andintermediate rows adjacent to and offset inwardly of the other surfaceof said sheet.

2. The material of claim 1 in which the strips are of substantiallyuniform width throughout.

3. The material of claim 1 in which the opposite surfaces of saidmaterial are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of saidstrips.

4. The material of claim 1 in which the strips are substantiallyrectangular in cross section.

5. The material of claim 1 in which the strips are of similar undulatingshape with alternate strips substantially parallel and the intermediatestrips offset therefrom substantially half the length of a diamond toform said rows of diamonds.

6. The method of forming from a blank a reticulated sheet having spacedflange portions, which comprises forming spaced rows of longitudinallyaligned slits in a blank between spaced flange portions with the slitsin alternate rows offset from those in intermediate rows to form stripsbetween said rows of slits extending between said flange portions withsaddle portions connecting adjacent strips intermediate the ends of saidslits, forcing said strips from substantially the original plane of saidblank while maintaining the size, shape and relative position of saidflange portions substantially constant to form continuous stripssubstantially normal to the general plane of said sheet extendingbetween said flange portions, moving said unslitted saddle portionsadjacent to but inwardly of the opposite surfaces of said reticulatedsheet and bending the portions of said strips on opposite sides of saidslits away from each other in zigzag shape to form rows of substantiallydiamond-shaped openings between adjacent strips.

7. The method of forming from a blank a reticulated sheet having spacedtiange portions, which comprises forming spaced rows of longitudinallyaligned slits in a blank betwen spaced flange portions with the slits inalternate rows offset from and having one less slit than those inintermediate rows to form strips between said rows of slits extendingbetween said flange portions with saddle portions conhecting' adjacentstrips intermediate the ends of said slits, forcing said strips fromsubstantially the original plane of said blank while maintaining thesize, shape and relative position of said flange portions substantiallyconstant to. form continuous strips substantially normal to the generalplane of said sheet extending between said flange portions, moving saidunslitted saddle portions adjacent to but inwardly of the oppositesurfaces of said re date-d sheet and depressing a portion of said sheettldjilCfiill each of the ends of the short rows of slits, and bendingthe portions of said strips on opposite sides of said strips away fromeach other in zigzag shape to form rows of substantially diamond-shapedopenings between adjacent strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS519,952 Hayes May 15, 1894 535,585 Hayes Mar. 12, 1895 748,669 ValentineJan. 5, 1904 818,444 Holden Apr. 24, 1906 1,076,017 Chase Oct. 21, 19131,797,030 Steenstrup Mar. 17, 1931 1,983,412 Smith Dec. 4, 19342,018,085 Otte Oct. 22, 1935 2,140,610 Willard Dec. 20, 1938 2,144,528Ewald Jan. 17, 1939 2,145,073 Drake Jan. 24, 1939 2,281,822 Bills et a1May 5, 1942 2,366,224 Warp Jan. 2, 1945 2,492,909 Warp Dec. 27, 19492,583,682 Celo'vsky Jan. 29, 1952 2,609,781 Gruetjen Sept. 9, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 490,121 Germany Jan. 24, 1930

